Projected pay for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $51,330 → in 3 years $55,500 → in 5 years $58,400 → in 10 years $66,400 (10-year range $57,100–$77,100). The model assumes pay growth of +2.6% per year.
$51,330
Now 2026
$55,500
In 3 yrs 2029
$51,200–$60,300
$58,400
In 5 yrs 2031
$52,600–$65,000
$66,400
In 10 yrs 2036
$57,100–$77,100
What drives the annual growth rate
Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.51%AI impact +0.12%Total +2.6% / yr
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
37/100
★★☆☆☆
Below average · ranked #719 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
36 pts
AI resistance
66 pts
Entry barrier
10 pts
Annual openings
53 pts
Projected growth
10 pts
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Labor demand for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Employment
52K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
49K
2025–35
Projected change
−6.2%
ranked #737 for growth
Annual openings
4,800
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Low
32/100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair.
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators.
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications.
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems.
$64,520
74/100
26%
Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.